JC Fridays will kick off its sixth season with nearly 50 visual and performing arts events taking place throughout Jersey City on June 6. Restaurants, galleries, stores, and event spaces throughout Jersey City will showcase a variety of art-related happenings including visual exhibitions, live music, performance acts, educational demonstrations, and more.
All events are free and open to the public.
With one of the preeminent art scenes in the tri-state area, Jersey City abounds with artists of all types, musicians, and individuals with unique talent, said Christine Goodman, founder of Art House Productions.
Held quarterly, JC Fridays draws thousands of residents from inside and outside Jersey City hoping to get a glimpse of what is current on the arts scene.
Sponsored in part by the Hudson Reporter, JC Fridays started in 2006 as a presentation by Art House Productions. The purpose of the event was to expose the public to local Jersey City talent that includes photographers, painters, dancers, filmmakers, and craft artists.
Opening each season, JC Fridays is a kind of taste of Jersey City arts, Christine said, allowing people to get a good sample of what is going on with the arts community here.
“This is like ‘a taste of Weehawken,’ but instead it is a taste of Jersey City arts,” she said.
With 50 different locations, this will provide a number of opportunities, although it is virtually impossible for anyone to take them all in just in one night.
“This is like ‘a taste of Weehawken,’ but instead it is a taste of Jersey City arts.” – Christine Goodman.
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Unique venue: Jersey Statuary building in Heights
JC Fridays comes to Jersey City Heights at the former Jersey Statuary, 53 Congress St. between Webster and New York avenues, with an art exhibit, musical performance and tribute to the former statue manufacturing and repair business owner Ralph Giblesi. The event is hosted by current residents Walter and Margo Parks.
“When my wife Margo and I bought the Jersey Statuary building in 2005, Ralph retired and essentially closed the business,” said Walter Parks. “Ralph agreed to sell us the building, which was much in need of repair. We promised to not tear the structure down. I am a musician and worked on the complete gut renovation over the span of two years during holes in my schedule while touring with former JC resident Richie Havens.”
Before the Jersey Statuary business closed, Parks took photos to document the old-world setting. These images celebrate the work and neighborhood contribution of old-school craftsman Ralph Giblesi who will attend a reception from 5 to 7 p.m.
Jersey City-based gypsy jazz band Manouche Bag will perform from 7 to 10 p.m. Italian wine, provided by Palisades Wine/Liquors, along with desserts by Cholita Desert Bar and potent Italian espresso, will be served.
From 7 to 10 pm., The Riverview Neighborhood Association and Palisade Lumber will present “Live at the Lumberyard.” This will be live music accompanied by video art projections in the urban outdoors featuring Chrissy Roberts, Twiddlin’ Thumbs, The Gully Hubbards and DJ Preskool. This Riverview Arts District event is at 424-428 Palisade Ave.
Riverview will also present “The Science of Nature/The Nature of Science” from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the offices of Assemblyman Raj Mukherji at 433 Palisades Ave. The group art show is curated by Meghan McKee.
From 7:15 to midnight, Modcup Coffee Roasters at 74 Jefferson Ave. will present “Modern life is…” a musical performance.
River Community Garden will present “Art in the Garden,” nature shots by John Dunstan, and “Four Seasons of Wild Jersey City” with music by Michael Durek from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at 285 Ogden Ave.
In the Greenville section
Project Greenville will present “2nd Annual Student Art Showcase” from 4 to 7 p.m. This will feature visual art by Jersey City students, high school age and younger, light refreshments from local Greenville businesses and live music by DIYGFY, the Sensational Country Blues Wonders and the Consensus Bureau. The event will be held at 128 Winfield Ave. (between Ocean/Old Bergen Rd.)
In the Grove Street area, Jersey City Cultural affairs will present City Without Walls Traveling Group Exhibition and Solo Exhibition by Ronald Cortes in the City Hall Rotunda Gallery, 280 Grove St. from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Base NJ presents “Pollinate” from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. This is a group show curated by Alicia Ruth. The event will be at 60 Columbus Drive
New artwork by artist Fred Leaf will be presented from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. at Two Boots, 133 Newark Ave.
Arts in Action will present, from 3 to 10 p.m., “Creative Grove Artist & Designer Market,” an outdoor public forum for visual and performing arts at the Grove Street PATH plaza. This will feature deejays Cloak Dagger and K7 from 4 to 4:30 p.m., and Jersey City-based national Acapella Soul group TRUSOL. The place is located at 102 Christopher Columbus Drive.
JC Downtown: HDSID presents “Groove on Grove” which will showcase local homegrown music by Vespertine at 5 p.m., Shayfer James at 6 p.m., Sylvana Joyce & the Moment at 7 p.m., Pat Van Dyke at 8 p.m. ,and Kiwi at 9 p.m.
In the Hamilton Park area
Sawyer Smith Residential Brokerage will present “Tiny People,” a showcase of local talent at 242 10th St., Suite 6.
GP’s Restaurant at 236 Pavonia Ave. will present artwork by Brooke Hansson and Dennis Whittinghill.
Art House Productions will hold its opening reception for “Exploring the Americas,” a photo exhibit by Jessica Smith in a journey through Costa Rica, Peru, and Montserrat. The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at 1 McWilliams Place on the 6th floor.
From 7 to 11 p.m., Grassroots Community Space will present “Apsaras – Celestial Dance,” a new mural by John Ruddy along with a series of metaphorical paintings invoking the traditions of classical Indian dance and a special musical performance by Cris Nyne as well as demonstrations by two new Grassroots classes, Belly Dance & Doorya Fitness. This will be held at 54 Coles St.
From 7 to 11 p.m., Bad Salsa and friends will present a night of music at 337 1 / 2 Pavonia Avenue.
In the Hilltop section
From 5 to 8 p.m., Darin Defield present “In Conversation,” an art and film presentation at
537 Newark Ave.
From 6 to 8 p.m., E. Tittlemouse & Co presents “The Art of Being a Gentleman,” a night of whiskey, cigars, grooming, fashion and art, at 246 Bay St.
In Jackson Hill
From 8 to 11:45 p.m. Fabulous Uptown Music presents “JC Originals Gospel+Jazz,” which includes The Sensational Country Blues Wonders, The Greg Feingold Jazz Ensemble, and The Spirit Moves with keyboardist Steven Malski Niles, vocalists Mary Graham Aiken and Rosalind Grant, and guests. This is at Moore’s Lounge, 189 Monticello Ave.
In McGinley Square
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Ed’s Salvage Co. presents “Jypsea by Terina Nicole,” a collection of jewelry, handbags and small leather objects. The show is at 672 Bergen Ave.
From 7 to 9 p.m. Metro-Spec and Metropolitan will present “Women Speak Easy!” a poetic event in The Price Building, 140 Belmont Ave.
Newark Avenue area
From 3 to 7 p.m., Saigon Cave will present the visual art of Sharex Sinton at 188 Newark Ave.
From 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. LITM presents “The Nature of Romance: New work by Gail Boykewich.” This includes new paintings, paper cuts, and shadow boxes. The event is at 140 Newark Ave.
From 7 to 9 p.m. Gallerie Hudson, 197 Newark Ave., presents “Tribute to Elmire Wade,” a long-time Jersey City resident artist who passed away in December 2013.
From 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., Port-O-Lounge presents “New works from artist Vincent Minervini.” The event is held at 286 First St.
From 8 to 9:30 p.m. Word Jersey City presents “33 1/3 Listening Party,” which features albums and music trivia at 123 Newark Ave.
In the Paulus Hook area
From 4 to 8 p.m., Liberty Prime Steakhouse presents artwork by Robert Rosado at 111 Montgomery Street.
From 4 to 8 p.m. Victory Hall Drawing Rooms presents “Automatic/Systematic-Brother Paul in Concert.” This includes music and art, at 180 Grand St.
From 5 to 7:30 p.m. Pro Arts at 135 Greene Street presents “Reflections and Interpretations: works in paint and textile by Mollie Thonneson and Agnieszka Wszolkowska. The reception takes place in the lobby space on Greene Street for Windows on Columbus, a 24 hour Pro Arts project.
The Powerhouse Arts District
From 5 to 8 p.m., The Art House, new rental residences, will present a ribbon cutting with Mayor Steven Fulop, opening leasing office as well as the gallery. The Shuster Group and curator Jim Pustorino established an art project to promote and sell works by Jersey City arts. Proceeds benefit the artist and other underserved communities. The event takes place at 109 Christopher Columbus Drive.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.